Company: Athletic footwear
company founded in 1998 that features Heelys, a shoe with a
removable wheel in the heel.

2001 Sales: more than $25
million

Roller Boy: "I grew up
in a roller rink. My claim to fame was being [in the Guinness Book
of World Records] as the youngest baby to roller skate. My mom and
dad had skating rinks, my sister had a huge skate distributorship,
and my nephew manufactured skates. I was the only one who did the
unthinkable and [broke from tradition]. But I'm back!"

"There's a
magic in believing in your product, and, when that comes, the rest
falls into place."

Wheels Start Turning:
"It was a crazy time in my life; I had gone through a divorce
and hated my job. I saw these kids on inline skates, skateboards
and bicycles and flashed back to a time when I was happier. I
thought, 'There's got to be something new out there.' I
started tinkering in my garage, got the neighborhood kids involved,
and, after a few days, I thought I really I had
something."

The Ball Got Rolling:
"I started talking to big shoe companies and some other folks.
But a call from a VC presented a deal I couldn't refuse, which
was to keep the majority of the company, name, management and do it
myself."

Wheel Bliss: "This has
been a blessing for me. There's something about being willing
to say 'I've had it; I'm going to do something I want
to do.' That, coupled with finding something I believe in, is
what made Heelys work."